Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
There’s no such thing as perfect accounting and tax services, and a firm that promises it should make you nervous. What you can find is a good match: someone who does your kind of return, explains what they did and lets you see your own CRA account. We couldn’t verify fees, rankings or specific firms, so this page shows how to choose and check, not who to pick.
What do accounting and tax services actually cover?
It’s two jobs that get bundled. Bookkeeping records what came in and went out. Tax work turns those records into a return and, for a business, into GST/HST filings and payroll remittances. A company also files its own corporate return.
Most employees with one T4 don’t need much. Someone with rental income, a small business or self-employment often does. So start by writing down which of those you are, because it decides everything else. If you’re not sure where you fit, our guide to choosing a tax preparer walks through the options in more detail.
Do you even need an accountant?
Often not. A single T4, a few receipts and a tuition slip is a job for tax software and an evening. The picture changes when money comes from several places, when you’ve started a business, when you sold property or shares, or when you’ve moved countries. A decent rule of thumb: if you find yourself guessing which line a number goes on, that’s the moment to pay for a second pair of eyes.
What does a good preparer save you?
Ask for numbers, not adjectives. Here are a few the engine gives us, all for Ontario in 2026, so you know what’s realistic.
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| Employee, $75,000, $5,000 RRSP deduction | Income tax falls from $12,705 to $11,072 |
| Self-employed, $20,000 net | About $477 income tax plus $1,964 CPP |
| Self-employed, $40,000 net | About $4,221 income tax plus $4,344 CPP |
| Small corporation, $100,000 profit | About $11,696 estimated (see below) |
The first row shows the point. A $5,000 deduction is worth $1,633 here, and you can check that yourself in the RRSP calculator in a minute. A preparer who claims to save you thousands on a plain T4 return is telling a story. Someone who finds a missed credit or points out that you can carry a deduction forward is doing the job.
The corporate row is federal 9% on the first $500,000 for an eligible Canadian-controlled private corporation, which is $9,000 here, plus Ontario. The Ontario share for 2026 is a blend we derived, not a printed rate, so treat the total as a guide and let your accountant confirm it. The corporate tax calculator lets you try other profits.
Which questions should you ask before you hire?
- Have you filed returns like mine, and how many this year?
- What will the fee be, and what does it include? Get it in writing.
- Who prepares my return, and who reviews it?
- What do you need from me, and by when?
- If the CRA writes to me, who answers, and is it billed?
We can’t tell you what a fair fee is. Firms set their own, and we haven’t verified any range, so get two or three quotes for the same work. And be wary of anyone who wants a fee based on the size of your refund.
What should you bring to the first meeting?
Show up with your slips, last year’s notice of assessment and a short note about anything that changed: a new job, a baby, a move, a sold condo. Preparers bill for time, so a messy pile of paper costs you real bucks. Our documents checklist for your tax return lists what most people need.
How can you check what they’ve done?
Ask for a copy of the return before it goes in, and look at income, deductions and your bank details for the refund. Then give the firm access properly. The CRA lets you authorize a representative, and you pick the level. For a personal account, level 1 is information only. Level 2 adds certain account changes. Don’t hand over your own online banking login or CRA password. The CRA has a route for this, so there’s no reason to share yours.
After the return is assessed, read the notice of assessment against what you filed. It takes ten minutes.
Where do people get burned?
Missing paperwork is the main one, and it’s usually the client’s fault, not the firm’s. Late filing is next. For the 2025 return, the balance was due April 30, 2026, and self-employed filers had until June 15, 2026. We couldn’t find the 2026 dates on the CRA’s page yet, so check before you rely on last year’s.
Payroll is the other hole for small business owners. If you have staff, the payroll remittance calculator shows what to send the CRA, and if you’re on your own, the self-employed tax calculator gives you a number to hold your preparer’s figure against.
Finally, watch for anyone who won’t sign or give you their name and address. That’s your answer.
Where we got these figures
The tax figures come from the 2026 federal and Ontario rates published by the Canada Revenue Agency and the Ontario government. Representative access levels come from the CRA’s authorization pages, and the filing dates from its important dates page for the 2025 return. We have no link with any accounting firm, the CRA or a government, and we don’t prepare returns ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an accountant for a simple T4 return?
Usually not. Someone with rental income, self-employment or a small business gets more from one.
What should I ask a tax preparer first?
Whether they file returns like yours, what the fee includes, who reviews the work and who answers if the CRA writes to you.
How much do accounting and tax services cost?
We couldn't verify any fee range, so we don't quote one. Get quotes in writing for the same work from two or three firms.
Can I give a preparer access to my CRA account?
Yes, through the CRA's authorize a representative process. For a personal account, level 1 is information only and level 2 adds certain account changes.
Should I share my CRA password with my accountant?
No. Use the CRA's authorization route so your own login stays yours.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
How to decide if you need a tax preparer, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help in Canada